13th Annual AMCSI Conference – Committee

Michele Schaffer | Program Director

Michele Schaffer and her husband Allen have four children, David, Andrew-AMC, Christopher, and Kaytlin. Michele currently works for the New Albany Plain Local School District in the Special Education Department. Michele joined the Board of Directors of Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support, Inc., in 2006 and served as a Co-Chair for the 2008 Ohio Conference. She accepted the position Vice-President of Programming in 2010. In her free time, Michele enjoys attending her children’s activities, volunteering, reading and singing with The Voices of Ohio, a professional vocal ensemble. Michele and her family currently reside in Columbus, Ohio.

Betsy Gates-Ehlers | Conference Program Assistant

Betsy Gates-Ehlers is mom to Jake (AMC – Amyoplasia, 10 yrs old) and Karl (4 years old) and wife to Andrea. Betsy is a a Business Analyst and Project Manager at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She recently completed her MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) degree at the University of IlIinois Urbana-Champaign. In her free time, Betsy plays on the Chicago Frozen Snappers, a recreational women’s ice hockey team and loves to spend summer weekends camping with her family! The Gates-Ehlers live Northwest of Chicago in the town Betsy grew up in.

Ani Samargian | Conference Program Assistant

Ani Samargian is the proud mom of Abby, who was born with arthrogryposis, Aiden, and Isabella and Ciaran Allen. Ani serves on the Board of Directors of AMCSI, South Carolina Disabilities and Special Needs Board, and she is a Support Parent for Family Connection of South Carolina. Learning about Abby’s AMC and supporting families going through similar situations was the inspiration and drive behind amcsupport.org. Ani and her family live in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

LaShell Page | Children’s Programming Director

LaShell Page is a seasoned 1st grade teacher in Oklahoma and mother of a 4 year old AMCer named Brian. LaShell is married to Robert Page and is also the mother of 2 year old little boy Cohen. LaShell graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor Degree in Education. This will be LaShell’s second year as the Children’s Programming Director for the Conference. Making the Conference fun and entertaining for the kiddos is her number 1 priority. LaShell is driven by her love and passion for teaching children in her career, life, and in the conference.

Jean M. Balent-Gephardt

Jean, wife to Matt, mother to William (AMC) and Jonathan and currently lives in Maryland. She is an environmental engineer, working for the US Environmental Protection Agency. After William’s birth, the Gephardts were overjoyed to find and join the AMCSI community. They have been regular attendees at the conference since 2012. Jean also enjoys yoga and volunteering with local environmental cleanup groups in the Baltimore area.

Maureen Goede

Maureen Goede was born in Chile, and grew up in Chile, Argentina and Ecuador before finally moving to Miami, FL where she attended high school. In 1983 she met her husband Armand and they were married in 1984. They have 5 children, Michelle, Massiel, Reinier, Josy and Ian. After Hurricane Andrew they moved up to Orlando, FL where Maureen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and then her Masters in Business Administration. Maureen is the proud grandmother of Sean, Breanna and Alayna who also live in Florida and 4 others who live out of the country. Sean was born with AMC, and when looking for answers about AMC they found AMC Support. Maureen, Josy and Sean attended their first AMC Convention in Chicago and look forward to the AMC Convention every year. Maureen and Sean have attended every single AMCSI Conference starting with Chicago and ending with the last one in 2012 in Indianapolis.

Beth Sellars

Beth Sellers is a mom of four, including 10 year old AMCer, Taylin. Beth is a graduate of James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University with a Masters Degree in Education. She has a long career in special education with a specialty in assistive technology. Beth is currently employed as a support coordinator for individuals with disabilities through the local community services board and as an adjunct professor teaching assistive technology courses to undergraduate students at the local university.

If you have any questions regarding the 13th Annual AMCSI Conference, please don’t hesitate to contact AMCSI at AMCOhio18@gmail.com.